The Shadow Within

by Jeanne Cavelos

Published by Dell Publishsing
Republished by Dell Ray

Anna Sheridan's trip to Z`ha`dum is very interesting and it explains a lot of things. Her research on Earth, on the Icarus (the ship they took to Z`ha`dum), and on the newly found planet is featured in detail. Morden, who was also part of the research team of the Icarus expedition, is very nice in this book. It still isn't completely clear, but it seems he was a good person before he got "employed" by the Shadows. The circumstances in which Morden became a Shadow Thrawl and Anna dissappeared are very exciting. Even though the reader knows what will be the very end (from watching the series), he doesn't know what will come next. It is a thrilling adventure with a very bad ending.

The story of the Agamemnon and John Sheridan's first days as its captain is very interesting too. There is a lot of action in this story line. As John has problems with a few of the people he commands, he is given a mission. If he fails, the new station named Babylon 5 will be destroyed. Somebody sabotages the Agamemnon's weapons and the story of finding out who it was is surprising. Linking Sheridan to Babylon 5's safety even before the idea of him becoming its captain came up is very clever and exciting.

Also, explaining why Kosh was the last ambassador to come to Babylon 5 in a 'by the way' manner is very good. It has a subtle power and importance to it.